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In short
Fish and chips from an 18th-century merchant's house on Whitby's harbourfront, serving since the late 1930s. Families and day-trippers come for locally landed fish with a harbour view, eaten in or taken away.
Magpie Café is a fish and chip restaurant and takeaway at 14 Pier Road on Whitby's harbourfront in North Yorkshire, serving from an 18th century former merchant's house since the late 1930s. It suits families, day-trippers and anyone who wants locally landed fish with a harbour view. Whitby railway station is about five minutes away on foot, and the café looks across the water to the steps up to Whitby Abbey.
Locally sourced fish and chips and the long menu
Fish and chips are the reason people queue, with fish sourced locally for both the restaurant and the takeaway. The menu is long, with around twenty kinds of fish plus daily specials. Grilled plaice, prawn cocktail and mussels sit alongside the cod and haddock, Yorkshire gammon covers anyone who does not eat seafood, and handmade chocolate truffles are made on site. There is a children's menu and a separate takeaway menu.
Prices are a little above a standard chip shop, reflecting sit-down service.
The Coast Award and owner Ian Robson
The Magpie won a Coast Award for best fish and chip shop in 2007 and has often been named among the best in the UK. Owner Ian Robson started there as a fish fryer in 1979. Two fires in 2017 closed the café; the building was restored and reopened that December.
Other menus, gift cards and takeaway
Besides the main menu, the café publishes wine, dessert, children's, takeaway, daily specials and winter specials menus on its website, and sells gift cards. It is also listed in Harden's restaurant guide.
Sources: Magpie Café official site. Facts checked November 2026.
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OpenSun - 11:30–21:00
- Monday11:30–21:00
- Tuesday11:30–21:00
- Wednesday11:30–21:00
- Thursday11:30–21:00
- Friday11:30–21:00
- Saturday11:30–21:00
- Sunday11:30–21:00
Dine-inTakeaway
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